Dont you think benzodiazepines – Valium , Ativan , Klonopin , Xanax should not be blamed?
November 27th, 2009 | 
Author: Welcome to sober companion by Dr. Rob Tencer DC,BSC.
as much we blame them ? No doubt they are addiction prone and habituating. But we find many people taking it for years without addiction. I am not at all trying to justify its usage , but see virtually nil side efforts ? Many successful executives and even doctors are taking them without compromising their day to day life or cognitive dulling. As against SSRI may not be habituating but have huge side effects and we are making zombies by long term treatment with SSRI. What is the view of specialists and users ?
Where answer given by J has disappeared ?
Let me clarify , I know some cases who are taking valium as and when required for many years with a successful career and no other side effects. Same about Ativan and Klonopin.
Interesting answer by deep thinker. Those who genuinly need benzodiazepines for a true anxiety are given SSRI with huge side effect and they have to also depend on beta blockers , muscle spasm relaxtants in addition to SSRI. Benzos are themself muscle spasm relaxtants and your need not always take beta blockers if you take benzos.
Oh I’m SO glad you asked this!!!! I love this topic.
Last week I was answering a question and mentioned that I had gained 15 pounds in one month on Xanax…well another user basically shot me/my post down by saying that "I must be talking about a different drug b/c NOBODY is on Benzos longer than 2 weeks…so my Doctor must be a QUACK"!!!!!! LOL
I’m like you have got to be kidding me?! LOL My entire family could have been MURDERED…maybe I was recently the victim of a violent crime….maybe my 16 yr old kid just died….like how does anybody ELSE know me/my situation/what drug I should be on and for how long???!!!! LOL
I have studied Benzos up AND down…and they are SAFE compared to any other Mental Health Drug,in fact…safER than many.The only danger is the ADDICTION and the COMING OFF,the taper-down properly in other words.
But as far as the drug in and of ITSELF….it is safe …and more importantly…it is THE best treatment for SEVERE panic and anxiety.
And if I had to choose between a Benzo every single day(if that’s what it took)….or,living in constant fear….I’ll take the Benzo.People take PLENTY of drugs EVERY DAY/FOR LIFE….heart pills,asthma meds,blood thinners…you name it.
There’s NO difference IMO:-)
YA JUNKIE: You are right,and I’ve studied those effects you speak of(in the same way I’ve studied the effects from ALL mental health drugs,all dangerous in some way!).
But consider this….when you have CERTAIN cases,it often boils down to this……
Do I take the Benzo(along w/the risks)…..OR…..Do I drop dead from a heart attack at 30 yrs old b/c of the SEVERE effects of panic/anxiety on the body?????
Once you study the effects of stress/panic/ect…and how HUGE a toll it takes on your health/body/ect….well,you have to choose the lesser of two evils….each of us must decide for ourselves:-)
Sorry J…I meant to thumbs-up you…but i hit the thumb-down:-(
Posted in Klonopin addiction
Oh I’m SO glad you asked this!!!! I love this topic.
Last week I was answering a question and mentioned that I had gained 15 pounds in one month on Xanax…well another user basically shot me/my post down by saying that "I must be talking about a different drug b/c NOBODY is on Benzos longer than 2 weeks…so my Doctor must be a QUACK"!!!!!! LOL
I’m like you have got to be kidding me?! LOL My entire family could have been MURDERED…maybe I was recently the victim of a violent crime….maybe my 16 yr old kid just died….like how does anybody ELSE know me/my situation/what drug I should be on and for how long???!!!! LOL
I have studied Benzos up AND down…and they are SAFE compared to any other Mental Health Drug,in fact…safER than many.The only danger is the ADDICTION and the COMING OFF,the taper-down properly in other words.
But as far as the drug in and of ITSELF….it is safe …and more importantly…it is THE best treatment for SEVERE panic and anxiety.
And if I had to choose between a Benzo every single day(if that’s what it took)….or,living in constant fear….I’ll take the Benzo.People take PLENTY of drugs EVERY DAY/FOR LIFE….heart pills,asthma meds,blood thinners…you name it.
There’s NO difference IMO:-)
YA JUNKIE: You are right,and I’ve studied those effects you speak of(in the same way I’ve studied the effects from ALL mental health drugs,all dangerous in some way!).
But consider this….when you have CERTAIN cases,it often boils down to this……
Do I take the Benzo(along w/the risks)…..OR…..Do I drop dead from a heart attack at 30 yrs old b/c of the SEVERE effects of panic/anxiety on the body?????
Once you study the effects of stress/panic/ect…and how HUGE a toll it takes on your health/body/ect….well,you have to choose the lesser of two evils….each of us must decide for ourselves:-)
Sorry J…I meant to thumbs-up you…but i hit the thumb-down:-(
References :
As long-term Klonopin addict, I take exception to your argument. I am not sure I understand your logic when you write: "No doubt they are addiction prone and habituating." Then you immediately say: "But we find many people taking it for years without addiction." It is like saying: "No doubt alcohol is addiction prone, but we find many people drinking it for years without addiction."
I have found Klonopin has seriously blunted my memory and concentration. I have seen an even worse case of this with a friend addicted to Valium. She often walks around like a zombie and is lucky if she can remember what day it is. For about five years, I have found it impossible to stop taking Klonopin. At times, I can lower the dosage temporarily but getting off the drug has been impossible for me and others I know from a support group for people with mood disorders.
It’s true that the SSRIs and many other psychiatric drugs have serious side effects, but the benzos are far from benign. Check out the links below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062903105.html
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2121.html
http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/anxieties-site/benzodiazepines-for-treatment-of-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/menu-id-1201/
EDIT: In retrospect, some benzos are worse than others. Valium had dreadful effects on me, and I almost lost a job due to side effects from Restoril.
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With my limited knowledge about benzodiazepines, they do make wonders over a short period. But will not agree with you that those who take it for longer time do not compromise anything. Memory loss is one major issue. It also suppresses other disorders. And the reaction cannot be predicted , one of my relative used to get excitement after taking Ativan. So benzodiazepines are something which needs to tackled with great care.
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My doctor is very pro-benzo. She told me that if your quality of life is being ruined by horrible anxiety and there is a pill available to help you enjoy life why is that wrong. I have taken Klonopin and I think it helps me to deal with life and stress better then the 10 different SSRI’s that I have tried in the past. I still take a mood stabilizer with my benzo but together they work better then just the mood stabilizer. If people quit SSRI’s cold turkey they will suffer horrible withdrawal effects and I can say that for a fact. If benzo’s are available why should only some people benefit from this. People are so overly critical of benzo’s and meanwhile if they are taken as prescribed they can be very effective long term. I have a relative that has taken Valium for 15 years and never took more then she was prescribed. If she quit she would have withdrawals but why quit if its working. The 10% of the junkies that take benzos ruin it for the 90% that take them with no problem. I know I will become physically dependant but i am physically dependent to pain meds also but it is worth it for the greater good. I never exceed my recommended doses and even take much less then I’m supposed to. I am pro benzo and tthat’sthat. I’m giving this question a star because i found it very interesting. Thank you.
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EDIT: When I say that I am physically dependant I mean that in order to quit taking medication such as these safely I will have to taper down slowly. I will cross that bridge when I have to but for now all is well…